North Carolina rallies past No. 25 Pitt for Belichick's first ranked win

North Carolina rallied from a 10-point deficit to defeat No. 25 Pitt 21-17 on the road Saturday, giving coach Bill Belichick his first win over a ranked opponent as the Tar Heels’ head coach. Pitt took a 10-0 lead in the first half, scoring a touchdown on its opening drive and adding a 41-yard field goal in the second quarter. North Carolina answered with a seven-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. to tight end Jelani Thurman. The teams went scoreless for much of the middle stretch before running back Demon June gave North Carolina its first lead, 14-10, with a one-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter. Pitt responded with a one-yard scoring run by LaVell Wright, moving ahead 17-14. North Carolina regained the lead on the first play of its next possession. Edwards connected with tight end Shamar Easter for a 75-yard touchdown pass, putting the Tar Heels ahead 21-17. That score held for the remainder of the game. The victory improved North Carolina’s record to 3-2 and handed Pitt its first loss, leaving the Panthers 5-1. It was Belichick’s first victory against a ranked team since taking over at North Carolina.